LOS ANGELES-Gennady “GGG” Golovkin finally returned to his adopted home Los Angeles to a hero’s welcome with a weary smile but a look of relief on Thursday.

“I feel good, I’m excited,” he said.

Golovkin was no more excited than IBF middleweight titlist David Lemieux, who appeared looking like he stepped off a GQ Magazine photo shoot. Both middleweight champions walked into the Conga Room at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. More than 200 reporters anxiously awaited their arrivals.

Lemieux (34-2, 31 KOs) and Golovkin (33-0, 30 Kos) will meet in a middleweight unification bout on Oct. 17, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Expect plenty of Canadians and plenty of fight fans period to be flocking to the almost biblical fight arena. It will also be shown on HBO pay-per-view.

“Gennady has fans everywhere. Not just L.A. and New York, but anywhere,” said Tom Loeffler of K-2 Promotions.

It was a who’s who of boxing press conferences as television, radio, print and website reporters crowded the popular music venue across the sidewalk from ESPN’s headquarters. Who could have imagined Golovkin would be this popular three years ago?

Times have changed dramatically for the puncher from Kazakhstan. Finally, since teaming up with trainer Abel Sanchez, the Triple G team has deserved adulation and universal recognition. Most of the boxing world perceives Golovkin as the kingpin of the middleweight division. Lemieux wants to topple the king.

“It’s the first time ever someone with a world title is willing to step in the ring with Gennady,” said Loeffler, adding that 15,000 tickets have already been sold at the Garden.

Montreal’s Lemieux could have opted for an easier opponent, but instead, he’s heading for the mouth of the big lion.

“I like Triple G, but in the ring nobody likes nobody,” Lemieux said. “We’re two pitbulls.”

Golden Boy’s Eric Gomez likens the match to David and Goliath. And, he says that Lemieux chose to fight Golovkin. Not vice versa.

“He wants to be great,” said Gomez of Lemieux. “He doesn’t want to be a puppet who has to be told who to fight.”

Other middleweight titlists such as Andy Lee, Peter Quillin, and now Daniel Jacobs have ignored challenges from Golovkin. Though Lemieux just recently won the title and could have opted for a much easier fight, he chose the monster of the middleweight division.

“Yes I do feel I can win,” he said. “I’m not a dreamer, I’m a realist.”

You have to admire a fighter who believes in his own power. This fight will pit power versus power.

Golovkin, as usual, was diplomatic.

“I don’t know who’s going to win. I’m not God,” Golovkin told the crowd. “It’s a great day for sports.”

COMMENTS

-Froggy :

It is a great day for boxing and GGG is smart enough and honest enough to say he doesn't know who will win ! I think GGG should be the favorite [Tyson was the favorite against Douglas] but Lemieux has a much better chance than anyone who has faced Triple G, anyone who thinks differently is welcome to tell me who had a better chance !

-stormcentre :

Yep, Lemieux is a cool guy with a decent set of stones stepping up and calling 3G out, then as soon as he has a title he follows up with the threat.
Whilst I think 3G was being a bit diplomatic with his God-prediction, it would be good for boxing if Lemieux can really pull it off.
:) :)

-Denise Alvarez :

Actually, l like both fighters, both pocess tremendous KO power.ln the N'Dam fight, you could hear the thuds from the blows as Lemieux attacked N'Dam 's body! GGG is favored to win but, Lemieux has a very good chance. May the best man win.

-teaser :

interesting ?when you see how fighters are rated in our minds earlier on in their careers?GGG didn't garner so much respect for his skills back then ...check out this article on GGG on 11-02-12 from The Sweet Science and the comments ->http://www.thesweetscience.com/forums/showthread.php?7407-The-Beast-of-Big-Bear-Lake-Gennady-Golovkin

-amayseng :

interesting …when you see how fighters are rated in our minds earlier on in their careers…GGG didn't garner so much respect for his skills back then ...check out this article on GGG on 11-02-12 from The Sweet Science and the comments ->http://www.thesweetscience.com/forums/showthread.php?7407-The-Beast-of-Big-Bear-Lake-Gennady-Golovkin

Well done Teaser pulling and posting that article.
I wonder where the hell I was I remember being on the band wagon with Bsug about GGG.
I was also a huge Pirog fan as well, too bad he injured his back he was a shift punching phenom himself.

-Art :

I'll bet on the guy who does his talking in the ring! :) Wait, that would be both of them! Hehehe! Great fight and I can't wait!!

-brownsugar :

I never expected DL to be able to beat N'Dam. He has shown a little improvement with every fight and I'm going to assume he will make a few more improvements before his ring date with Golovkin. If David had another two years to develop i might even favor him.
The NDam win was a great boost for his career. As a result Lemieux has become one of the most highly esteemed champions in the middle weight division.
But I think the win is a little over rated. DL fought a guy who depends on movement in phone booth sized 16x16 ring, and NDam was out boxing DL in the majority of the rounds he wasnt being savagely floored.
DL was telegraphing his punches and missing wildly in that fight and dispite being knocked down 4 times N'Dam looked the fresher of the two in the last two rounds.
Hopefully DL can make some adjustments before the fight. Being a heavy handed hooker, who fights exclusively off the front foot won't be enough to derail Golovkin.
I give him a punchers chance. But only a very slim chance.